After six weeks Frank was still invalided, so Gilbert went every day down to the mines, brought messages and queries in the evening, carrying back his orders the following morning.
He and Vansie grew to be great friends; they quarrelled and they made it up like girl and boy as they were.
Great excitement ensued when the reward was offered for the apprehension of Hari Rām; the subject caused endless discussion. Days and even weeks went by without producing any result; whether the warning had driven Hari Rām out of the district, or caused him to take extra precautions, the result was the same, nothing was heard of him. The Commissioner fumed and fretted.
"The man must be taken," he declared.
"My Lord, you will not do this thing; if you do, you will be caught and hung up like a dog."
So spake Rajhani, lying prostrate at the feet of her lord and husband, Hari Rām. He looked down upon her, frowning.
"Go hence!" he said; "who art thou to speak thus?"
"The Miss Sahiba told me yesterday that the Commissioner was like a raging lion, his men are everywhere; she bade me tell you so, if you are caught you will be hanged," said Rajhani.
In a fit of blind anger, Hari Rām stretched out his foot and kicked the woman.